December 23rd, 2009 | Broadband, Broadband Deals, Broadband Providers
Virgin Media took over NTL Telewest back in 2006 and in the three years since, have established themselves as one of the highest-ranking competitors in regards to home broadband. Virgin Media ranks third, behind only BT and TalkTalk, as the UK’s leading broadband provider.
The great appeal of Virgin Media is the fact that consumers can not only purchase broadband services, but can also create packages consisting of broadband, TV (digital channels) and telephone service. This is a great deal cheaper than the majority of companies will offer for the three services separately.
Virgin Media pride themselves on having an average broadband speed of 8.15Mb, which has resulted in the company being awarded the ‘2009 Fastest Home Broadband’ award by Top 10 Broadband, in 2009. Virgin’s top speeds are being made even greater, by the introduction of the potentially revolutionary, fibre optic-based broadband.
Virgin believes that fibre optics is definitely the future for broadband, because unlike existing systems, fibre optics do not require the user to connect to their existing phone lines.
Nirgin Media broadband packages come with many “freebies”, including a wireless router, which by itself is worth around £40, something that many other companies will charge the customer extra for. The average packages that Virgin offer cost between £12.50 and £28 for around 50Mb. Each of these packages includes two months of broadband completely free, with the user only paying for their Virgin phone line.
December 21st, 2009 | Broadband, Broadband Equipment, Mobile Broadband
On the market at the current time there are three T-Mobile broadband deals ranging in price from £10 to £30. The cheaper offer features a broadband USB stick with a 3Gb usage allowance and a download speed of 4.5Mb. The deals featured are based on a 24month contract, which might seem a little too long for a first time buyer. Many broadband contracts seem quite daunting, as they can be restrictive if you want to change provider at some point. The longer the contract, the greater the level of commitment, so it is best to read the small print before entering into an agreement with any broadband provider.
Another potential problem that needs to be considered before a broadband provider is chosen is whether the download speed will be fast enough for your needs. Generally speaking this will depend entirely on the specific requirements of the individual user. For example, if you run a business you will need a very fast broadband package. The same goes for the large family, as they will most likely have several computers connected to the Internet simultaneously. Something like the Virgin broadband package, which includes TV and home phone for as little as £18 per month, might be what you are looking for. As this package includes unlimited downloads there is no need to worry about going over a set monthly allowance, which is one of the problems with mobile broadband.
December 18th, 2009 | Broadband, Broadband Providers
Plusnet is a broadband provider, which was founded in 1997 under the name of Plusnet Technologies Ltd. It offers a dial-up connection service that now has a customer base of around 200,000. The company prides itself on the accessibility of its service, which offers a one-month contract. The Plusnet brand, as we know it today, was made available in 2000. The service proved to be popular enough to ensure the growth of the company over the years. The early service included the launch of a 512Kb/sec broadband device, which required a BT engineer to come and install it. However, 2002 saw the release of a self-install product that customers could set up themselves.
Over the years the speed of the service increased from the initial 512Kb/sec to 1Mb/s, then 2Mb/s up to current 8Mb/s, which is the standard for today’s broadband.
In 2004 Plusnet became a public limited company, Plusnet PLC and 2005 signed an advertising deal to become the official shirt sponsors of Sheffield Wednesday FC, who play in the Football League Championship. This sponsorship deal lasted until the 2008/09 season.
Plusnet acquired Parbin Ltd in 2005, along with its consumer, MetroNet. At that time MetroNet provided a range of pay as you go packages and Plusnet became owner of several other brands as part of the acquisition.
Plusnet offer different package deals to suit most Internet users, which vary in terms of the amount of usage available, ranging from as low as 1Gb up to 40Gb.
December 17th, 2009 | Broadband, Broadband Deals, Broadband Equipment
When choosing the best broadband deal for you, you really need to take into consideration your own personal circumstances. Sometimes it’s no use going into the same deal as your best friend, because a great deal of the time you’ll probably find that your requirements don’t match those of your friend.
It really helps to have a general idea of how much you and your family intend to use your broadband each month. It could even be beneficial to consider purchasing a package that includes other things that you might need, like telephone and television services. On the other hand, you might decide that you want to change mobile phone providers and the company that you are interested in moving to may be able to offer you a discounted rate for broadband if you are an existing customer.
You might also think about where you want to be able to use broadband. If you only use one computer that has a fixed location, then you will more than likely be quite happy simply connecting your PC to a cable attached to a wall. If, on the other hand, you have several PCs and/or laptops around the house, it could be easier to connect everyone up wirelessly, either using built-in Wi-Fi, which the majority of laptops come with as standard or using an adapter that is attached to your PC via a USB, that can be purchased from any shop that sells computer hardware.
December 16th, 2009 | Broadband, Broadband Equipment, Broadband Providers, Mobile Broadband
Broadband breathed new life into the Internet, taking the place of Dial-up, which was notoriously slow and unreliable. The first broadband packages were introduced shortly after the millennium and soon after there were numerous companies trying to claim a piece of the market for themselves. As time passed by the broadband providers began to offer packages based on the varying needs of the consumer and they included fast broadband, heavy broadband and broadband bundles.
Fibre optics paved the way for even faster broadband, enabling a connection speed of up to 50Mb. Today, the most common form of broadband is ADSL, which has become available even in remote areas of the country. More recently, broadband has developed further, with the advent of Wi-Fi, which enables the user to connect to the Internet without the need for wires.
Sky broadband was launched in 2006, bringing more choice to the market. It gave its rivals enough competition to make a secure hold on the broadband market and brought with it sports, movies and other entertainment, which became available to download. Broadband suppliers have since pushed the boundaries of price, service and download speeds even further.
Mobile broadband had been in the development stages from as early as 2002, but it is only in the last few years that it has become real competition for home broadband. Companies that have taken on board mobile broadband include O2, T-Mobile Vodafone and 3G.
December 12th, 2009 | Broadband Deals, Broadband Providers, Business Broadband
One of the leading providers of business broadband in the UK market today is BT. The company offers an award winning service and provides a wide variety of packages. For example, business option 1 is ideal for small businesses, with a 10Gb monthly usage allowance and built-in security features that are designed to keep your files safe from harm. Your company website can be hosted with the 50Mb of web space that is also provided as part of the package. Business option 2 works in a very similar manner, except that it is designed for the slightly larger company. This package provides unlimited monthly access to the Internet and for a one off charge, the user can upgrade to a wireless hub. You should be aware that the best deals for these options will be found online.
Virgin Media offer a business deal by way of NTL, the cheapest of which comes with a connection speed of 10MB, while the more expensive option has a connection speed of 20Mb. The Internet package they feature also includes phone line rental, which makes them a more expensive option compared to BT. The BT business package costs around £12 per month, while the NTL package costs considerably more, at £40 per month. With NTL, your business will be able to use up to five email addresses, a company domain name is provided and you have 60Mb of storage space.
December 10th, 2009 | Broadband Comparison, Broadband Equipment, Broadband Providers
As there are so many broadband providers on the market today, it can be a difficult task choosing the right package, one that is not only cheap for the first few months, but also reasonably priced thereafter. Some providers try to come across as offering a good deal by pricing the first three months or so at around £6 per month and then increase the price by a considerable amount. One such package is provided by AOL broadband, which starts out at a very competitive £4.99 per month, but this is only for the first three months and after that the price increases to £14.99 per month. There is also a set up fee of £29.99, which is not such a good deal, as many broadband providers do not charge for connecting a customer to the Internet.
In comparison, Virgin Media offer a similar package for as little as £12.50 per month, but it is only this price to customers who already have a Virgin phone line. For new customers the charge is £20 per month, which is significantly more. The package comes with a free wireless router and free Internet security. The speed of downloads can be up to 10Mb and the deal includes unlimited downloads. The AOL package has a download speed of 8Mb and the customer is limited to a 10Gb usage allowance. There are similarities to the Virgin package, such as the free wireless router and the benefit of 24/7 phone or online support.
December 9th, 2009 | Broadband Deals, Mobile Broadband, Mobile Broadband Comparison
There are several companies across the UK that provide mobile broadband services, including relatively young mobile phone providers such as 3 Mobile.
3 Mobile broadband boasts of having the largest 3G network in the whole of Great Britain, which means that they predict you will be able to use their services in more places across the country than any other provider.
Consumers wishing to use mobile broadband services through 3 Mobile, have the option of two schemes, Pay Monthly or Pay As You Go.
In the case of ‘Pay Monthly’, the price paid each month varies from £7.50 for either an 18 or 24-month contract, up to £15 for a one, 18 or 24-month contract. All of these deals except the 1-month contract come with a free modem, which takes the form of a dongle that can be plugged straight into a PC or Laptop’s USB port. Dongle’s can also be plugged into 3 Routers, which allow more PCs or Laptops to connect to the Internet, wirelessly, as long as they are WiFi enabled.
‘Pay As You Go’ mobile broadband operates in a very similar manner to ‘Pay As You Go’ mobile phones, in the sense that you purchase the dongle outright. The dongle is “pre-loaded” with a set amount of Internet access that will entitle the user to a specified amount of time on the Internet. Prices for the initial dongle range from between £19.99 and £79.99, while top-ups can be purchased in exactly the same way as you would for a mobile phone.
December 6th, 2009 | Broadband, Broadband Providers
Many people are familiar with BT and have come to rely on the company for an excellent phone service. However, you may not know much about BT Total Broadband, a broadband option that you should take a look at. In fact there are three different packages on offer from this provider, each designed to fit different needs and budgets.
One of the more popular broadband deals offered by BT is Option 2. With this package, you have a wireless router that is designed to last for the long term. This means that as BT launches additional broadband services, there will be no need to replace it.
The Openzone feature allows you to use your laptop or other personal device at any wireless hotspot, at no additional charge. In terms of mobile broadband comparison, the reliability of BT’s services holds up very well. Excellent speeds and general performance mean you are never left without connectivity, whether you are waiting for a train or enjoying a coffee at a local café.
Other noteworthy features include free antivirus protection, a full range of parental controls that are ideal for families with young children and plenty of free email addresses. There is also the option of identity theft support and speeds of up to 8Mbps. Speed actually varies, based on location and the general condition of your system, but with newer equipment, you are likely to enjoy a connection that is very near the top end of the range.
You also have free evening and weekend calls to anywhere in the UK using VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol). This is a benefit that helps to keep your mobile costs to a minimum. Why not take some time to explore the various BT Total Broadband deals, because the chances are, one of the three options will be just what you need?
December 3rd, 2009 | Broadband, Broadband Providers, Mobile Broadband
For anyone looking to check out different broadband UK providers before they actually make contact, Think Broadband offers the ideal solution. With a website dedicated to providing factual information about the best broadband deals in the country, you have the chance to compare providers with ease, simply by visiting this one site.
The concept behind Think Broadband is to offer the latest information about broadband providers, including announcements of upcoming deals or specials, as well as information submitted by past and present customers. Unlike some other sites that take a decidedly pro or con stance on different providers, the philosophy at Think seems to be more along the lines of presenting the facts and allowing readers to make decisions for themselves. That single fact, by itself, makes Think one of the most valuable online resources that consumers have at their disposal.
Along with data on the various providers, Think Broadband also addresses the basics of the broadband service itself. You can learn how broadband works, using easy to understand text and illustrations on the site. If you want to check your current connection speed, there is a speed checker that can be used at no charge. The online forums allow you to view postings without registering and even participate on a limited number of them anonymously, if you wish.
Constantly updated, the content at Think Broadband remains fresh and accessible to anyone interested in broadband services or providers. The site is easy to navigate and offers a wealth of information that would be difficult to find anywhere else. Before you sign up with any broadband service, see what information you can find on Think Broadband.